Did You Know?

Did you know that Toronto is home to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)? TIFF is one of the largest and most prestigious film festivals in the world. Every September, the festival showcases a wide selection of films, attracts top movie stars and industry professionals, and offers film enthusiasts a chance to experience the magic of cinema.

Did you know that Toronto is known for its diverse culinary scene? The city offers a wide range of international cuisines, reflecting its multicultural makeup. Toronto's neighborhoods are filled with restaurants, food markets, and food festivals that celebrate a variety of culinary traditions from around the world.

Did you know that Toronto is often called "The Six"? The nickname "The Six" refers to the city's two overlapping area codes, 416 and 647, and was popularized by rapper Drake, who hails from Toronto. The term has become a part of the city's cultural identity and is often used as a shorthand name for Toronto.

Did you know that Toronto is the largest city in Canada? With a population of over 2.9 million people, it is the most populous city in the country. Toronto is a major economic and cultural hub, known for its diversity and vibrant city life.

Did you know that Toronto is home to the iconic CN Tower? Standing at a height of 553.33 meters (1,815 feet, 5 inches), the CN Tower was the tallest freestanding structure in the world when it was completed in 1976. It offers breathtaking views of the city and attracts millions of visitors each year.

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Unleashing Creative Potential At The Ontario College Of Art & Design

Many years ago, when a Toronto manor house and grounds known as “The Grange” was the backdrop for a Normal School that was to become the Ontario College of Art, no one could have imagined what a pivotal element of the Toronto arts education scene it would become more than 130-odd years later. Situated (appropriately) around the Art Gallery of Ontario, the post-secondary school became the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in 1996 and is now known as OCAD University.

OCAD University turns out talented visual artists, but also professional designers in all areas from cloth and fashion to film and photography, interior design and graphic design. Several disciplines have been added, especially since it became a degree-granting institution. Here is where the artistically inclined can learn the nuances for careers from cartographer to curator.

OCAD has grown over the years as the student body increased and the courses diversified. It now has a faculty of almost 400, teaching 3,5000 students a year in a studio-based, as opposed to lecture hall, atmosphere. This is a fascinating place to visit for art buffs and the curious on a rainy day away from Toronto Beaches.

A design marvel itself, visitors to the area will find OCAD’s buildings to be works of art in and of themselves. Notable is the 2004 extension that looks like a huge mosaic shoebox on the top of a step ladder; it is known as the Sharp Centre for Design. An exterior tour of this “university of the imagination” is a walk through design delights; be certain to stop in and tour the student art gallery on the premises.